Microsoft Strikes An Upfront Deal; HasOffers Asks Forgiveness

Microsoft has provided a “cross-screen” video upfront deal, of sorts, to Starcom MediaVest Group and its clients. According to a release, the deal provides “access across the video opportunities afforded by Microsoft properties such as Xbox, Skype and Ads in Apps on Windows 8, as well as MSN and the Microsoft Video Ad Network[.]” Read more. Ad Age sees it as a try by SMG to secure Microsoft ad budget before it loses the business to another agency.

Second Chances

As AdExchanger first reported, Facebook kicked out HasOffers and Kontagent from its mobile measurement program, but HasOffers is asking for a second chance. “Facebook has done some amazing things in in the market in terms of expanding the mobile advertising ecosystem,” HasOffers CEO Peter Hamilton told VentureBeat. “I don’t want to be pointing the fingers at anybody, but we deserve a second chance.” The company was given the boot after an audit indicated that it didn’t adhere to Facebook’s data policy.

DSP Checks

Liz Rutgersson of UK-based agency Periscopix takes readers through her checklist when choosing a demand-side platform (DSP) partner on Search Engine Land. She writes, “Many demand-side platforms will emphasise the reach of their inventory as their key unique selling point. In practice, I've found that of the biggest DSPs the difference in reach is minimal.” Read more.

Native Nose

On PandoDaily, staffer James Robinson takes big traditional Web publishers to task for a lack of acceptance of native ads. “Whether it’s native advertising, well-done product placements, or Pandora targeting ads to listeners based on political persuasions, online advertising is now the dominant advertising market and it is evolving rapidly. By holding their collective noses, traditional media companies risk getting even further behind,” says Robinson. Read it.

Brazil Digital

Emarketer taps a study by WPP’s IPOPE research firm and augments with its own calculations in a look at the Brazilian media market. A familiar refrain ensues: “In third (with pay TV included in the overall television total) came Brazil’s rapidly expanding internet market, which generated $3.4 billion in advertising spending in 2013, up 11.8% from $3.0 billion in 2012 – pushing investments in internet ads past magazine ads, which actually dropped 4.2%.” Read more.